Nashik records lowest temp of season

Meanwhile, Nashik recorded the lowest temperature in the state this season with the mercury dropping to 6.3 degrees Celsius on Monday. Nashik residents woke up to a gripping chill, which continued through the day and grew harsher in the evening.

While people in the city were grappling with the cold, villagers and farmers in the district were more worried about the crops.

"The drop in temperature is not too good for the grapes in the present situation," said a farmer.

Areas of Nashik district are still coming to terms with the recent hailstorm and unseasonal rains that have damaged their crops completely. While the grape farmers are the worst hit, their worry doesn't end there. The challenge now is to see that the plants survive in the cold weather.

Yogesh Patil, an agricultural expert, said, "The damage to the grape plants will be realised in a week's time and not immediately. What was seen during the hail storm is like the mechanical damage due to winds and rain. The rain water retention in the vineyards and the thermal shock to the roots will weaken the roots, causing them to decay. They will hence not be able to provide nourishment to the plants and the chances of viral and bacterial attacks will increase. This will call for lot of spraying of pesticides and insecticides to keep the plants disease free and prepare them for the next growth cycle."